Samsung has taken a significant step towards the official launch of its latest interface, One UI 8.5, based on Android 16 (QPR2), which is now rolling out to Galaxy S25 series users. The update first appeared in Germany and is expected to reach other markets enrolled in the beta program within the next few hours.
The update is 928.84 MB in size and carries the firmware build number ZZCD. In addition to functional improvements, the update includes the March 2026 security patch, which addresses over 65 security vulnerabilities present in previous versions.
Key Changes and New Features: The eighth update focuses on improving the user experience and fixing minor system bugs. The official changelog includes nine key features, most notably:
Improved Gallery: A new “Stories” feature has been added, allowing users to view their memories on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
Camera and Studio Fixes: Addressed an issue that caused the quick preview of exclusive cloud videos to be corrupted, and fixed a bug that prevented the restoration of original images after changing the storage resolution in the Studio app.
Interface Improvements: Resolved an issue with notification cards flickering, and fixed an issue where the Bubbles notification badge wouldn’t disappear after being read.
System Integration: Resolved an issue where the clock shortcut disappeared while using the Now Brief feature, and improved system stability when copying folders while connected to a Galaxy Book 4.
App Fixes: Addressed a bug that caused stuttering or shooting failures when navigating within the Naver Maps app.
End of Beta Program and Imminent Stable Release
Reports indicate that this may be the final beta version for the Galaxy S25 series, as Samsung prepares to close the program and release the stable version to the public very soon.
In a surprising development that reflects the rapid pace of the Korean giant’s development, leaks have revealed that Samsung has already begun developing the initial build of One UI 9.0, based on the upcoming Android 17 operating system. This confirms the company’s efforts to reduce the time gap between Google releases and their arrival on Galaxy devices.
How to Update
For beta users in supported regions, the update can be downloaded by going to:
Settings > Software update > Download and install.
